Sue has a crisp idea for Cornish spuds
17 April 2009
A tasty product to boost the reputation of Cornwall's
locally-grown produce will soon be on sale across the country.
A new business, the Cornish Crisp Company Ltd is about to set up
in Callington - with the aim of 100,000 packets of crisps coming
off the production line this year.
After months of research and planning, the project is able to go
ahead following the award of a £120,000 business grant from the
Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE).
The new venture is the brainchild of public relations consultant
Sue Wolstenholme, who decided that the good reputation of Cornish
potatoes should not be restricted to crops straight from the
fields, but could be used for high-quality processed foods as
well.
The new business will employ three full-time staff and buy all
its potatoes in the county. Sue, who runs Ashley Public Relations,
said: "We are already talking with local growers who will be
producing varieties of crisping potato specifically for the
business.
We are buying the crisp production line from a food company in
Dorset, which will be concentrating on jams and preserves in
future, and we hope to have it installed in the unit at Kelly Bray
by 24th April, recruit staff and be in production by 28th May."
Waste vegetable oil from crisp frying will be used to produce
bio-diesel, which will be used for company and staff vehicles. In
addition, employees will be encouraged to cycle, car share or walk
to work.
Rob Hatt, head of food and rural affairs at the South West RDA -
which manages RDPE in the region - said: "This is a really
interesting project which will provide extra employment, benefit
local growers and further strengthen the region's reputation as a
producer of quality food.
"It is also committed to be as environmentally-aware as
possible, using a green tariff electricity supply and recycled
materials where possible. The company has also agreed to engage a
mentor from Envision, the environmental services organisation,
before production starts, to identify areas for achieving savings
and higher levels of environmental performance."
Ends
For further information, please contact Pat Murray, of the South
West RDA press office, on 07733264756
Notes to editors
RDPE
The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) runs from
2007 to 2013. It is the 2nd pillar of the Common Agricultural
Policy and aims to support the creation of genuinely sustainable
farming, forestry and food sectors, whilst also bringing wider
benefits for the economy, the environment and rural communities. It
provides the major financial vehicle for protecting and enhancing
the environment and securing a range of public benefits for
society. Defra is the Managing Authority.
The RDPE has three priorities for rural development:
1. Improving competitiveness of the agriculture and forestry
sectors
2. Improving the environment and the countryside
3. Improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging
diversification of economic activity
In this region, the South West of England Regional Development
Agency (RDA) will deliver priorities 1and 3 with a budget of £156.8
million over the seven years. The RDA is also responsible for
ensuring that five per cent of the RDPE funding is spent on
enabling community involvement in rural development. The delivery
partners in the South West aim to ensure that investment in each of
the three priorities will help support investment in the
others.
The RDPE priority for improving the environment and the
countryside is being delivered nationally by the Forestry
Commission's Woodland Grant Scheme and Natural England's
Environmental Stewardship Scheme. In addition, a minimum of 5% of
the programme will be delivered through a local community-led
approach.
The aims, objectives and priorities for delivering RDPE in South
West England were agreed for the socio-economic investments with
regional partners and these are set out in the Regional
Implementation Plan. On the basis of a thorough analysis of South
West England's rural characteristics and economy, the Plan sets out
eight themes:
i. Skills development
ii. Social enterprise
iii. Business support
iv. Supply chain and adding value
v. Resource management (soil, water, energy, waste)
vi. Sustainable rural tourism
vii. Biodiversity and landscape
viii. Community-led development
Further more information on the RDPE and the schemes see
www.sw-ruralgateway.info
Organisations involved in delivering RDPE
The South West RDA leads the development of a sustainable
economy, investing to unlock the region's business potential. It
works in partnership with public, private and social purpose
organisations to drive up the region's productivity by giving
people the skills they need, encouraging enterprise, improving
infrastructure, regenerating places and promoting the strengths of
the region.
Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve
and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban,
coastal and marine areas. It conserves and enhances the natural
environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of
people, and the economic prosperity it brings. For more information
see www.naturalengland.org.uk
Environmental Stewardship (ES) was launched in 2005, builds on the
very best practice already evident in British farming. During the
period 2007-13 the national budget for ES will be £2.9 billion. The
objectives of ES are to:
- Conserve wildlife (biodiversity).
- Maintain and enhance landscape quality and character.
- Protect the historic environment and natural resources.
- Promote public access and understanding of the
countryside.
- Natural resource protection.
The Forestry Commission is the government department responsible
for forestry in Great Britain. It supports woodland owners with
grants, tree felling licences, regulation and advice; promotes the
benefits of forests and forestry; and advises Government on
forestry policy. For further information, visit http://www.forestry.gov.uk
Contact Details
Name Pat Murray
Tel 07733264756
Email pat.murray@southwestrda.org.uk